My chicken turns blue when I pick her up

[admts50]

My Colombian Wyandotte turns blue when I pick her up. At first I thought I was squeezing her to tightly, but I really don't think that is the case. I try to be very gentle with her - I hold her less tight then my other chickens and they don't seem to have a problem. When I pick her up she begins to pant with her mouth open and her comb and wattle turn blue. I put her down as quickly as I can because I don't want to stress her out more. When I put her down she continues to pant and her comb/wattle stay bluish and gradually lighten over the course of 24 hours.
I wouldn't bother to pick her up at all ,but she is recovering from bumble foot so I need to check her periodically.
Any insight as to what's going on or has it happened to anyone else?

 

[happyhens1972]

I would say she has a heart condiotion leading to poor circulation....I have a roo with the same issue. When you pick her up, her 'fight or flight' response gets her heart beat going and because of the defect, it can't keep up so she begins to lack oxygen in the blood, turning her comb and wattles blue. She pants to try and get more oxygen into the blood.

Obviously you need to check on her feet but I really would keep handling to a minimum if I were you or you may find she keels over on you.

You can add some dark green leafy veg like green cabbage and kale to her diet as these help to oxygenate the blood and help it get rid of carbon dioxide. They are rich in iron too.

 

[Michael Apple]

Sounds to me like an air sac/respiratory infection. Look in the birds mouth to the back of the throat. If you see a stringy, yellow substance along the roof of the mouth or along the tongue, it is likely sinusitis. Canker is whitish yellow too, but is more like plaque or cottage cheese. Removing canker buttons will bleed where yellow cheesy stuff from sinusitis won't. Tylan will work for sinusitis/air sac infection where Metronidazole will work against canker. If it is bacterial, your bird may recover in 5 days of treatment. If it is viral, it will take longer, or clear up and come back again. The bird should be separated from others in case it is viral. If it is viral , even clearing up the symptoms will still mean the bird is a carrier and should be culled as to not risk the health of the flock.

 

[admts50]

Happyhens1972 - Thanks for the insight. What you describe makes sense and I will try to add iron rich foods to her diet. All the chickens will enjoy that!!!!

Michael - The only time she pants or turns blue is when I pick her up. Would this respiratory infection be noticeable all the time? Onside of the time I pick her up she acts and behaves normally. I will check her mouth for the stringy yellow substance you described ... Thank you for your advice.

 

[seminolewind]

I had one that did that. Aside from having some problem anyway, I think it has to do with the position putting pressure on the lungs, and they have several lungs at different areas.